Marianne Faithfull, Icon of 1960s Pop, Passes Away
By Jennifer Hauser
Atlanta (CNN) — Singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull has died, as confirmed by her spokesperson on Thursday.
In a heartfelt statement, the family expressed their sorrow: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull. Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed."
Faithfull rose to fame in the 1960s with hits like "As Tears Go By," a song penned by The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, both of whom were part of her life during her early career.
At just 16 years old, she was discovered by The Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham at a party in London in 1964. The release of "As Tears Go By" marked the beginning of her remarkable career.
Throughout her journey of over 50 years in the music industry, Faithfull also acted in films such as Girl on a Motorcycle in 1968 and Hamlet in 1969.
However, by the late 1960s, she faced significant challenges, struggling with drug addiction that continued for many years. Despite these hardships, Faithfull achieved several creative comebacks in the following decades.
In 2020, it was announced that actress Lucy Boynton, known for her role in Bohemian Rhapsody, would portray Faithfull in a biopic about her life. Faithfull expressed her delight, stating that she was "happy that my story is finally being made with my dream team."
During the 2021 COVID-19 lockdown, Faithfull wrote a new album, even as she battled a severe case of the virus.
Faithfull's extraordinary and often turbulent life was captured in her 1994 memoir. In it, she shared her philosophy with readers: "Never apologize, never explain – didn’t we always say that? Well, I haven’t and I don’t," she wrote in Faithfull.
Marianne Faithfull was 78 years old at the time of her passing.
Marianne, Faithfull, singer